Coin-operated gas timer and burner for use therewith



Jim@ il, 1968 L.. LAUGHLIN 3,387,747

COIN-OPERATED GAS TIMER AND BURNER FOR USE THEREWITH INVENTOR.

LORAN L. LAUGHLIN June 11, 1968 1 l.. LAUGHLIN 3,387,747

COIN-OPERATED GAS TIMER AND BURNER FOR USE THEREWITH Filed May 24, 1967 3 Sheets-Sheet 4846 44 48 62 fl, Ir\\\\\i ".(40

FEG. 6

INVENTOR. LORAN L. LAUGHLIN June H, i958 L LAUGHLIN 3,387,747

COIN-OPERATED GAS TIMER AND BURNER FOR USE THEREWITH Filed May 24, 1967 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 90j 4 [88C l 92C s n VA J I. l lll 1 92d I l l 66C 90 l /sl l 7e 72 9 v /9' INVENTOR.

LORAN L. LAUGHLIN 3,387,747 CIN-UPERAIED GAS TIMER AND BURNER EUR USE THEREWITH Loran L. Laughlin, 2541 Maywood Drive,

Sait Lake City, Utah 84109 Filed May 24, 1967, Ser. No. 640,914 I Claims. (Cl. 222-2) ABSTRACT 0E THE DISCLOSURE A coinactuated timing valve mechanism which permits the supply of a gas through a `valve for a predetermined interval of time for utilization. When the timing mechanism, released by a coin, is rotated, the gas valve is opened allowing gas to ow for a preset time interval to the burners of a device utilizing the gas after which time interval the valve is closed until another coin is deposited.

It is apparent that one of the major problems facing recreational or national park service oicials has been a means of providing fuel for cooking and other purposes to the public using their outdoor camping installations. To resolve this problem, the applicant has provided an efficient coin-operated timing apparatus to release fuel to an outdoor cooking appliance for a specic period of time.

Therefore, one of the objects of the invention is to provide a simple device, operated by coins, for opening a valve in a fuel supply line in order to provide fuel to a cooking range or related appliance.

Another object is to provide an improved coin-operated timing device to permit the flow of fuel for a specific period of time.

Another object is to provide an improved coinoper ated timing device for the release of fuel over a period of time wherein several coins may be utilized at one time for the release of fuel over an extended period of time.

Another object is to provide an improved outdoor cooking appliance connected to a coin-actuated timing device for the release of fuel thereto.

Numerous other objects and advantages will be apparent from a careful reading of the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic view of the present invention showing the control box and the burner grate, the interior of the control mechanism and the burners both being shown in outline form;

FIGURE 2 is a detailed front vertical view of the coinoperated timing mechanism to the fuel valve;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical section along the lines 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE 2, with parts thereof cut away, illustrating the details of construction of the ratchet arrangement in the timing mechanism to the fuel valve;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken along the lines 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is also a fragmentary View of a portion of the device shown in FIGURE 2 illustrating the camming structure of the timing mechanism;

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional view through the structure shown in FIGURE 6;

FIGURE 8 is a diagrammatic view of the control box of the present invention showing the lever to be manually operated by an individual using the invention, said lever connected in outline to the timing mechanism;

FIGURE 9 is a top plan view of the cooking appliance showing the windshields outwardly extended and the cooking grate in position;

States Patent O 3,387,747 Patented June 1l, 1968 lCC FIGURE l0 is a side view of the cooking appliance, partially cut away, showing the burners positioned therein with the windshields extended; and,

FIGURE l1 is an end view of the cooking appliance showing a lburner with controls extending therefrom and the windshields.

Referring to the drawings and, in particular, to FIG- URE l, there is shown a coin-operated valve control 20 mounted on a hollow metal post 22. A cooking appliance 24 extends laterally from said post and is supported by a separate lateral post 26 connected to post 22. Positioned on post 25 and within the appliance 24 are a series of burners 28. Fuel is brought to the burners 28 through the pipe 30 which extends from the burners 2-8 to the coin-operated valve control 20 within posts 26 and 22, respectively. From the coin-operated valve control 20, the pipe 30 will connect to an outside source of supply not shown in the drawings.

The coin-operated valve control 20 involves a coinrelease mechanism well known in the art and indicated generally as 32. The details of the coin-release mechanism 32 have not been shown in the drawings since any coin device of the prior art which will admit a coin of predetermined value and thereby allow the lever 34 to engage the fuel valve timing mechanism will suflice. The invention is independent of the coin-release mechanism 32 since it will operate with many of the coin-release mechanisms of the prior art.

It will `be noted that the entire coin-operated valve control 20, including the coin-release mechanism 32, is positioned in a metal casing 35 mounted, as stated previously, on a suitable metal post 22. The lever 34, shown best in FIGURE 8, is pivotally mounted at 37 to the bottom of the said casing 35 and connects through the rod 36 to arm 38 which, in turn, is connected to the rotatable shaft 40 in a manner such that, upon movement of arm 38, the shaft 40 will rotate in the same direction. The spring 41 positioned around the shaft 40 is attached at one end to the casing bracket 46 and against the arm 38. Its purpose is to constantly urge the arm 38 in a forward position, thus pulling the rod 36 forward and lever 34 against the casing 35 and rotating the shaft 40 back to its original position. Shaft 4i) is supported at one end by the bearing 42 mounted on the bracket 46 and at the other end by a second 4hollow shaft 44 in which it slightly extends and is releasably connected to shaft 44 in a manner discussed below. Shaft 44 in turn is supported by the bearing 48 also mounted on bracket 46. The opposite end of shaft 44 connects to a timer S0 which opens a valve 51 controlling the ow of fuel through the pipe 30.

As seen best in FIGURE 2, the bearing 42 has the cam S2 mounted thereon and is secured thereto by the screw 54. Cam S2 is adapted to ride against the complementary cam 56 mounted on the outer end of shaft 40 and secured thereto by the screw 58. Thus, it will be seen that, as the shaft 40 rotates, the camming surfaces of cams 52 and 56 will ride against each other and are so ydesigned as to move the shaft 4i) in a lateral direction to the right as a function of the rotary movement thereof. It will be further noted that, at the opposite end of shaft 4Q, the pin 60 extends therethrough and is adapted to engage the notched surface 62 of the corresponding end of shaft 44. The spring 64 positioned around the shaft 4) ybetween arm 38 and bearing 42 is arranged to constantly force the pin 60 against the notched surface 62 of -shaft 44. Thus, the pin 60 of shaft 40 and the notched end 62 of shaft 44 act as a one-way ratchet enabling shaft 44 to be rotated a specific distance in a clockwise direction as shown by the arrow. At the end of a predetermined clockwise rotary movement as ldetermined by the relative positons of cams 52 and 56, the shaft 40 is disengaged from shaft 44 since it is forced outwardly through the camming action of cams 52 and 56, thereby disengaging the pin 60 from the notched end 62 of shaft 44. Since the opposite end of shaft 44 is connected to the timing device Sii, the rotary movement thereof sets the timing device Si) for a specific period of time which, in turn, opens the valve 51 for the same period of time. The timing device 50 and valve 51 are both generally known in the art and are discussed here to facilitate understanding of the invention. The timing device 50 operates on a spring system (not shown) and slowly returns or rotates the shaft 44, now disengaged from shaft 40 (which has been moved laterally away therefrom by the cams 52 and 56), in a counterclockwse direction until, after a specific period of time, it has been rotated back to its original position and the fuel valve is again closed.

The cooking appliance 24 comprises the four sides 66a, b, c and d. They are mounted on the post 26 in a manner as shown at 68 and 70 in FIGURE l0. The appliance 24 remains open at the bottom, thereby allowing any spillage of food or other products to drop through the appliance and allowing easier access for cleaning purposes. The removable cooking grate 72 is supported on two small extensions 74 and 76 positioned near the top and on the interior sides of 66a, b, c and d, respectively. The burner venturi 78 and 80 are slotted openings in the cooking grate 72 and are positioned just over the burners 28. The aforesaid burners 28 are mounted on the post 26 and connect with the fuel line 30 therein. Any suitable burner will suffice, but is preferably of the round vertical type with an extended lip 82 to prevent grease, dirt, food and other undesirable materials from clogging the burners 28. At the -bottom of each burner 28 is the burner control valve 84, which is provided with a control handle 86 extending through one of the sides 65 of the cooking appliance 24.

The windshields 88a, b, c and d are pivotally mounted to the exterior portion and at the top of sides 66a, b, c and d, respectively, by the hinges collectively indicated as 90. Thus, when not in operation, the windshields 88a, b, c and d would be folded over the grate 72. When in use and wind conditions were such as to require wind detiection, then windshields 88a, b, c and d would he placed in a vertical position and held with latches. If no wind prevailed, then the windshields would be folded outwardly to provide extra surface. The hinges are so designed as to position and hold the windshields 88a, b, c and d parallel to the grate 72. it will be noted that the corner windshields 92a, b, c and d are pivotally connected by the hinges 91 to the windshields 8S!) and 88d, respectively. Their primary purpose is to till out the corner gaps when the windshields 88a, b, c and d are folded outwardly to provide extra working spaces for utensils, etc. They would be held in position by the various latches illustrated as 94 in FIGURE 9. They could also be utilized in wind deection if the necessity should arise.

Thus, in operation, a coin of predetermined value is placed in the coin-release mechanism 32. This releases the lever 34 which, when pivoted away from the casing 35, will pull the rod 36 in an outward movement. Since rod 36 is connected to arm 38 which, in turn, is attached to shaft 49, the outward movement of rod 36 will rotate arm 3S and also the shaft 40 in a clockwise direction. Any rotating movement of shaft 40 is transmitted to shaft 44 because the pin 60 positioned in one end of shaft 40 is constantly -being forced into the notched end surface 62 of shaft 44 by the spring 54; however, the shaft 44 is rotated only a predetermined distance because the cam 56, mounted on the end of shaft 40 opposite to that in which pin 60 is positioned, is so arranged as to ride on the complementary cam 52 affixed to Ibearing 42. Thus, as the shaft 40 rotates the cam 52, the said shaft 40 is forced in a lateral direction away from the shaft 44. This rlisengages pin 60 from the notched surface 62 of shaft 44. The distance that shaft 44 rotates, however, automatically sets up a predetermined time level that the fuel valve 51 will remain open since it is attached at the end opposite the notched surface 62 to a timing device 50 that operates the fuel valve S1 a desired length of time, thereby supplying fuel to pipe .27 and thence to burners 2S. Essentially, the timing device operates by slowly rotating the shaft 44 in a connterclockwise direction back to its original position, at which time, the fuel valve 5i closes. The shaft 40, having previously returned to its original position by the spring 41 working against the arm 38, simultaneously forces the rod 36, the handle 34, the shaft 44 and pin 60 back to their original positions. The structure may also be designed as to permit successive admissions of coins placed in the coin-release mechanism. lt will be appreciated that the operation just described could be arranged to provide for cumulative additional time periods in which the fuel valve would remain open.

It will be also appreciated by those skilled in the art that the present invention can be used wherever it is desired to dispense a metered amount of a fiuid, be it gas or liquid, in response to the insertion of a coin, such as the dispensing of oxygen for breathing and the dispensing of helium for inflation of balloons and the like.

Various modifications may be made in` the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope thereof and it is understood that the invention is limited only as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A timed iiuid dispensing mechanism for use in combination with a fiuid utilization device comprising ya coin- Ireleased lever, a first shaft, means connecting said lever `and :said first shaft and designed to rotate said first shaft -upon movement of said lever, a second shaft positioned adjacent said first shaft and in axial alignment therewith, means connecting said first land second shafts for unidirectional rotation of said second shaft upon rotary movement of said first shaft, a timer connected to said second shaft and adapted to be set in operation for a predetermined length of time by the extent of rotation of said second shaft, a fiuid valve operatively connected to said timer and adapted to remain open during the period that said timer is in operation, a camming arrangement positioned -on and adjacent to said first shaft rand designed upon a designated rotation of said first shaft to move the first shaft in an axial direction away from said second shaft at the end of a predetermined rotary movement of said first `shaft to disengage the connecting means connecting said first yand second shafts one to the other and permitting said timing means connected to said second shaft to rotate :the said second shaft baci; to its original position whereupon the timer ends its operation and the said Huid valve closes Iand means connected to receive the fluid released by said valve during the period said valve remains open.

2. The invention set forth Iin claim '1 wherein the said means connecting said first and second shafts comprises a pin set inthe end of said first shaft and a ratchet notch cut into the adjacent end of said second shaft in which said pin is adapted to engage thus effecting a one-direction ratchet arrangement between the first `and second shafts.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 wherein the said camming arrangement positioned on and adjacent said rst shaft comprises first cam means mounted on said first shaft and a second cam means mounted adjacent said first shaft having `cam surfaces which 'are designed to ride vone on the other and 'are arranged with respect -to each other that at the end of said rotary movement of said first shaft said first shaft will move a sufficient distance lin an axial ldirection away from said second shaft to remove said pin set in said first shaft from the ratchet notch cut into the adjacent end of said sec-- ond shaft and operatively disengages said first and second shafts from further rotation in said one direction.

4. The invention set forth in claim `3 wherein said fluid 4utilization device is a cooking means which comprises a series of burners, a fuel pipe connecting said valve 'and said burners and designed to cary fuel to the latter, and a cooking grate positioned over said burners.

5'. A. fuel timing mechanism for use in combination with a fuel burner comprising a casing, a `coin-release means mounted in said casing and adapted Eto yreceive a plurality of coins, a lever pivotally connected to the eX- terior surface of said casing and designed to be released for pivotal movement by coins placed in said coin-release means, `a first shaft rotatably mounted in said casing; means connecting said lever and said first shaft and designed to rotate said first shaft when said lever -is pivotal- 'ly moved from said casing, `a second shaft rotatably mounted in said casing `and positioned adjacent said first shaft in axial alignment therewith, means connecting said 'first and second shafts for rotating said second shaft `a predetermined distance upon rotation of said first shaft, a timer mounted in said casing and connected to said second shaft `and set in timing operation for a set length of time by the rotation of said second shaft, -a fuel valve mounted in said casing and connected to said timer and adapted to remain open during the period that said timer is in operation, a cam means operating on said first shaft and designed to move said rst shaft in 'an axial direction away from said second shaft at the end of a set rotary movement of said first shaft thus disengaging said first and second shafts one from the other and permitting said timing means connected to said second shaft `to rotate the said second shaft 'back to its original position which ends the operation of the said timer closing the said fuel valve, land a cooking means positioned adjacent said casing a suitable distance therefrom and adapted to receive the fuel passing through said fuel valve when said valve is opened by said timer.

`6. The invention set forth in claim 5 wherein a first spring is positioned around said first shaft and designed to urge said first shaft into connection with said second shaft, and a second spring positioned around said first shaft having one end connected to said casing and the other end attached to the said means connecting the said first shaft to said lever and designed to rotate said first shaft back to its original position.

7. The rinvention set forth in claim 6 wherein said means Connecting said first `and second shafts comprises a pin set in `the end of said first shaft and a ratchet notch cut into the adjacent end of said second shaft in which said pin is designed lto engage, ith-us effecting a one-direction ratchet arrangement between the first and lsecond shafts.

S. The invention set forth in cl-airn 7 wherein the `said camniing arrange-ment positioned adjacent said first shaft comprises first and second cams, the surfaces of which are designed to ride one :on the other yand at the end of a predetermined rotary movement of said first shaft will cause said first shaft to lmove a sui-table distance in an axial direction away from said second shaft 'thus removing said pin set in said first shaft from the ratchet notch cu-t into the adjacent end of said second shaft and effectively disengaging said first .and second shafts.

9. The invention set forth in claim S wherein the said cooking means comprises a series of burners, a fuel pipe connecting said burners and said fuel valve, said burners being positioned on said fuel pipe and vadapted to receive fuel therefrom, Wind defle-ctors vertically positioned on said fuel pipe and arranged to enclose said burners on four sides, a removable grate mounted on said wind deflectors and fuel controls yto said burners extending through one of said Wind deflectors.

1t). The invention set forth in claim 9 wherein at least four windshields `are pivotally mounted on said Wind deflectors in a manner so as to provide additional Wind protection when raised to the vertical position and to provide additional cooking space in the horizontal position.

References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 1,969,675 8/l934 Smith et al. r9-4 3 X 3,289,801 -12/1966 .erkins 194-3 STANLEY H. TOLLBERG, Primary Examiner. 

